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Odean, Henry "Hank" Elton
| Last Name: | Odean |
|---|---|
| First Name: | Henry Elton |
| Dates: |
13.6.1926 (Date of Birth)
2017 (Date of Death)
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| Biography/History: | Henry “Hank” Odean was born in Spokane in 1926 and was a lifetime resident of Spokane. He attended Grant Elementary, Lewis and Clark High School, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Henry enlisted at age 17, choosing to serve in the Navy instead of the Army to avoid being stationed in a jungle.Henry trained at Farragut Naval Training Station in Farragut, Idaho between June and November, 1944, just after graduating. He became a Navy Signalman, 3rd Class, but was pressed into being flagman during emergencies. Henry recalled getting into trouble from his superiors for showing off his knot-tying prowess as a way entertaining his fellow sailors. Knot-tying was a skill he had mastered as a Boy Scout. He also recalled loading supplies in South Pacific jungles for delivery. One of the crew, thinking that he had tripped over a fire hose on the deck at night, found that in reality a python was carried aboard ship along with the supplies. Crickets were also carried aboard this way, and Henry had pleasant memories of hearing their chirping while sailing in the middle of the ocean. The Navy loaned Henry to the Merchant Marine and he served on the SS Elijah Mitchell in the South Pacific from 1944-1946 as part of a convoy. His ship was attacked by a submarine and the crew fought two fires on board. The ship was waiting in Manila to deliver munitions for an attack on Japan, when the war ended. The SS Elijah Mitchell was no longer required to make the delivery. Henry Odean was a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge, and a Shriner, serving as Potentate of El Katif Shrine Temple in 1989. He retired from Washington Water Power as a Vice President, Finance in 1988. Henry Odean died in Spokane in 2017. |
| Related Objects: |
4407.1 (Uniform, Military, Uniform, United States Navy, Blue, 1943-1945)
4407.10 (Sash, Badge Sash, Boy Scouts of America, 1934-1943)
4407.11 (Neckerchief, Neckerchief, Boy Scouts of America, 1934-1943)
4407.12 (Manual, Handbook, Boy Scouts of America, 1934-1943)
4407.1C (Cap, Sailor, Cap, Uniform, United States Navy, Blue, 1943-1945)
4407.3 (Uniform, Military, Uniform, United States Navy, Blue, 1943-1945)
4407.4 (Cover, Pillow, Pillow Cover, United States Navy, 1943-1945)
4407.5 (Bag, Duffel, Duffel Bag, United States Navy, 1943-1945)
4407.7 (Patch, Insignia, Insignia Patch, US Navy, 1943-1945)
4407.8 (Patch, Insignia, Insignia Patch, US Navy, 1943-1945)
4407.9 (Uniform, Organizational, Uniform Shirt, Boy Scouts of America, 1934-1943)
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